India will easily get Australian uranium via the United States under new nuclear deal
Scott Ludlam
The Australian Greens
Australian uranium will inevitably end up in India under the new nuclear deal between India and the United States, Senator Scott Ludlam, Australian Greens spokesperson on nuclear issues said today.
"Australia's decision to back the nuclear deal between India and the United States drives a gaping hole in the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)," Senator Ludlam said.
"Australia should join countries like New Zealand, Switzerland, Austria and others to reject this dangerous deal and to uphold and defend international law.
"The treaty forbids nuclear trade with states like India, which has used its civilian nuclear reactors to make nuclear weapons.
"The Rudd government has tried to tell the public that Australia won't sell uranium to India, but under the terms of the deal, which frees up India's access to nuclear technology and materials, Australia won't need to sell uranium directly to India; our uranium can simply be traded on to India.
"Australia has played a deeply disappointing role in this process. Despite its stated aim of a nuclear weapon free world and a brand new Commission to ensure a successful NPT meeting in 2010, giving India a special exemption has made the NPT a sham," Senator Ludlam said.
"Gareth Evans, the leader of the government's new Commission expressed concerns about the US-India deal saying that it could undermine the NPT at a press conference held in Japan on 25 August.
"A senior former diplomat and former UN Disarmament Official, Jayantha Dhanapala of Sri Lanka, said: 'Brutal and unconscionable pressure has been exerted on the few countries who opposed the US-India draft at the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) meeting in Vienna.'"
"I anticipate that a group of countries will take this issue to the International Court of Justice to ask for and injunction against the implementation of this deal. The next meeting of the NPT, in April 2009 in New York will be a stormy one, and no thanks to Australia," Senator Ludlam said.
"Australia's decision to back the nuclear deal between India and the United States drives a gaping hole in the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)," Senator Ludlam said.
"Australia should join countries like New Zealand, Switzerland, Austria and others to reject this dangerous deal and to uphold and defend international law.
"The treaty forbids nuclear trade with states like India, which has used its civilian nuclear reactors to make nuclear weapons.
"The Rudd government has tried to tell the public that Australia won't sell uranium to India, but under the terms of the deal, which frees up India's access to nuclear technology and materials, Australia won't need to sell uranium directly to India; our uranium can simply be traded on to India.
"Australia has played a deeply disappointing role in this process. Despite its stated aim of a nuclear weapon free world and a brand new Commission to ensure a successful NPT meeting in 2010, giving India a special exemption has made the NPT a sham," Senator Ludlam said.
"Gareth Evans, the leader of the government's new Commission expressed concerns about the US-India deal saying that it could undermine the NPT at a press conference held in Japan on 25 August.
"A senior former diplomat and former UN Disarmament Official, Jayantha Dhanapala of Sri Lanka, said: 'Brutal and unconscionable pressure has been exerted on the few countries who opposed the US-India draft at the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) meeting in Vienna.'"
"I anticipate that a group of countries will take this issue to the International Court of Justice to ask for and injunction against the implementation of this deal. The next meeting of the NPT, in April 2009 in New York will be a stormy one, and no thanks to Australia," Senator Ludlam said.